RAW photo shooting, a feature typically reserved for high-end smartphones and advanced camera apps, is set to become more accessible across a wider range of Android devices. Google aims to enhance the quality of photos by offering RAW support through its CameraX library, allowing more apps to deliver improved photo quality without additional app development hurdles. With this update, Google intends to make high-quality photography available on a broader spectrum of devices, regardless of price or app choice.
CameraX Update Enables RAW Shooting
Many Android apps, including social media platforms, rely on Google’s CameraX library to provide users with basic camera features, ensuring a standardized shooting experience. However, until now, CameraX did not support RAW functionality, limiting many apps to the JPEG format, which compresses images and reduces detail. With the latest CameraX update, developers will have the option to enable RAW shooting in their apps. Unlike JPEG, the RAW format preserves all sensor data as a DNG file, allowing users to enjoy greater editing flexibility and image quality.
Release Timeline and Developer Integration
It remains unclear when Google plans to officially release this CameraX update, notes NIXsolutions. Additionally, app developers must implement the new feature within their own apps, so the timeline for availability may vary. We’ll keep you updated on the progress of this rollout and any new developments related to RAW support in Android apps.